Modularized BIM Data Validation Framework Integrating Visual Programming Language with LegalRuleML

Abstract

A building design must satisfy diverse requirements including building codes, owner’s specifications, design guidelines, and project requirements. In addition, there is a growing need for an automated design evaluation process involving intelligent checking and reporting capabilities that addresses the inefficiency and error-prone nature of the current manual checking practice. To leverage the automated rule checking procedure, we need to overcome two existing key challenges, which are the inherent complexity of rules and the impracticability of checking methods. To address these challenges, this research proposes a node-based visual language approach integrated with the emerging open standard LegalRuleML, which allows the flexibility in defining and executing design rules in a machine-readable and implementable format. The approach effectively facilitates the entire rule-checking process including the rule interpretation from natural language-based requirements to machine-readable forms, rule categorization, rule parameterization, and checking execution with a BIM model. The LegalRuleML-based visual programming language approach for rule checking will help automatically and iteratively evaluate the quality and defects of information conveyed in a given building model interactively as an essential part of design process.